"Money is the mother's milk of politics," said Mark Hanna, an American businessman and political advisor to President William McKinley. It's a famous quote that has become one of the basic truths about politics. The more money you have, the more likely you are to win an election.

Despite major advances in the digital space over the past few years, the evidence suggests that phone calls remain the highest bang-for-your-buck in the fundraising world. That's because fundraising is built around a single moment: The Ask. This is where the rubber meets the road. In case it's not obvious, this is the moment where you ask for funds.

So when you're deciding your method, look for two things:

1. Speed — you will have to ask a lot of people for funds.
2. Difficulty of rejection — it's much harder to say no when you're face-to-face.

Types of Fundraising

Maier Anderson is a call-centric fundraising model, but that doesn't mean we don't use every method available to us. Mass emails and digital ads can function while you sleep, adding an extra income stream. Individual emails to key stakeholders can raise far more than phone calls. Events are notoriously difficult, but when done right, they can yield positive rewards. Meetings are a fantastic way to solicit larger gifts.